The National Hockey League’s playoffs gave the Canadian economy a boost in April, according to the country’s statistics agency.

Spectator sports contributed the most to the growth in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector that month, “as four Canadian hockey teams qualified for the National Hockey League playoffs,” Statistics Canada said.

The arts and entertainment sector rose 0.9 per cent to $17.1 billion annualized in April, the sector’s biggest seasonally adjusted gains since last July.

To be sure, the industry represents a small share of Canada’s economic activity, accounting for just 0.8 per cent of total output.